Mr Michael Byrne > Matheson LLP > Dublin, Ireland > Lawyer Profile

Matheson LLP houses a wide-ranging public law practice which counts a broad array of state and semi-state bodies, government departments and private sector companies among its clients. The team has significant expertise in contentious matters, including judicial reviews and statutory investigations and appeals, and also stands out for its strengths in energy regulatory issues, the procurement and development of public infrastructure projects, and freedom of information law. The practice is led by litigation-focused Michael Byrne, Nicola Dunleavy, whose extensive practice includes planning and environmental law, Garret Farrelly, a key name in the energy sector, and state aid and public procurement specialist Kate McKenna.

Matheson LLP has significant experience of advising blue-chip technology companies and multinational financial services companies on technology transactions, cyber security matters, and other regulatory issues. Anne-Marie Bohan heads the practice and has extensive experience of drafting and negotiating contracts for the development, sale, purchase, licensing and distribution of technology. Rory O’Keeffe and Carlo Salizzo specialise in technology outsourcing transactions and data privacy matters. Michael Byrne relies on his dispute resolution experience to handle contentious matters for technology clients and represent them in proceedings before the Irish courts.

The team at Matheson LLP advises media and broadcasting companies and regulatory and statutory bodies on the full array of matters in the film, television and digital media sectors. The group combines its entertainment law expertise with the strength of its commercial litigation and dispute resolution team to provide clients with comprehensive defamation and privacy law advice. Ruth Hunter, who advises on a range of deals, negotiations and the drafting of actors’, directors’, production and distribution agreements, co-heads the practice with litigation expert Michael Byrne, who regularly represents clients in copyright infringement and defamation matters.

Matheson LLP handles the full spectrum of data protection mandates, including data processing work, security breaches, and issues relating to the rights and complaints of data subjects. The department is characterised by its diverse sector capabilities, acting for prominent clients in the software, finance, pharmaceutical, tech, and manufacturing industries. Practice head Anne-Marie Bohan is noted for her longstanding experience in pre-GDPR and GDPRs policies. Data protection and privacy litigation specialist Deirdre Crowley focuses on cyber incidents, artificial intelligence law and employment-related privacy issues. Michael Byrne is a key name on the contentious side of the practice.

Matheson LLP fields a substantial team of dispute resolution specialists with large numbers at every level of seniority. It has a major market share of commercial cases before the High Court. The firm continues to be recognised for financial services disputes, regulatory enforcement cases and investigations. The firm is also noted for technology and data privacy disputes. It remains active in competition follow-on damages actions and insurance coverage disputes. Deirdre Crowley has transferred from the technology and innovation group into the regulatory investigations team to focus on technology and privacy matters. Nicola Dunleavy has a huge reputation in the market and Julie Murphy-O’Connor is a prominent name in banking-related asset recovery and enforcement matters, along with commercial court disputes. Karen Reynolds is a leader in financial services regulatory investigations. April McClements specialises in insurance litigation, and Michael Byrne in technology and data-related cases. Ruadhán Kenny and Connor Cassidy were promoted to partner in January 2024.